Implements for holding and turning comestibles

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed an implement for holding and turning a comestible, such as an ear of corn, adapted to be manipulated by hand, having a ridged hand-grip member, from the inner end of which extends a rigid rod member, formed, progressively, with a sharp point, a tapered portion, and a screw portion, and, inboard of the screw portion, a shank which is interlocked with the handle member, but a portion of which shank is preferably exposed so as to extend into the core of the comestible when the implement is screwed home.

United States Patent 1191 Majeske 1 Feb. 26, 1974 [54] IMPLEMENTS FORHOLDING AND 1,801,653 4/1931 Berry 294 5 TURNING COMESTIBLES 587,3398/1897 Stebbins 886,510 5/1908 Huguet 294/5 [76] Inventor: John Maj s2835 Garrett 2,881,816 4 1959 Batt 294/61 x Drexel Hill, Pa. 19026 22 Fld1 Ma 3, 1972 Primary ExaminerEvon C. Blunk 1 l e y AssistantExaminer.lohnny D. Cherry PP N01 9, Attorney, Agent, or FirmSynnestvedt& Lechner Related U.S. Application Data [63] Continuation of Ser. No.88,660, Nov. 12, 1970, [57] ABSTRACT abandoned. There is disclosed animplement for holding and turning a comestible, such as an ear of corn,adapted to be [52] U.S. Cl. 294/5 manipulated by hand, having a ridgedhand-grip mem- [51] Int. Cl.... A47g 21/00 her, from the inner end ofwhich extends a rigid rod [58] Field of Search 294/1 R, 5, 26, 61;30/137, member, formed, progressively, with a sharp point, a 30/323,340, 343; 8l/3.l A, 3.45, 3.48; tapered portion, and a screw portion,and, inboard of 99/419; 145/50 B, 50 R, 53 the screw portion, a shankwhich is interlocked with the handle member, but a portion of whichshank is [5 6] References Cited preferably exposed so as to extend intothe core of the UNITED STATES PATENTS comestible when the implement isscrewed home.

258,420 5/1882 Hcsscl ill/3.! A 1 Claim, 3 Drawing Figures IMPLEMENTSFOR HOLDING AND TURNING COMESTIBLES This application is a continuationof application Ser. No. 88,660, filed Nov. 12, 1970, now abandoned.

This invention relates to implements for holding and turningcomestibles, and, although adapted for a varietyof purposes, it isparticularly useful in the field of hand-held utensils.

The principal object of the invention is the improvement of suchimplements with respect to simplicity, manufacturing economy,sturdiness, adaptability, ease of use, and sureness of grip, both as togrip of the implement by the hand of the user and as to grip of thecomestible by the implement itself.

More specifically, the invention contemplates the provision of animplement for holding and turning a comestible with a tough core, suchas an ear of corn, wherein the principal object is accomplished by aspecial construction and configuration of handle member and associatedrigid rod member, having cooperative features and functions, and notablyby axially elongated, alined handle and rod members, whereof the latterhas at least two elongated portions of differing characteristics, onesuch portion being tapered and terminating in a sharp point, and anadjacent portion, in alinement with the first, having a central stemsurrounded with a steep-pitched sharp-edged screw of substantiallyconstant diameter throughout most of the length of said portion; therebeing desirably a third elongated portion which is generally cylindricaland constitutes a shank in axial alinement with the second portion andthe handle, all or part of which shank may be embedded in the handle andinterlocked therewith; and in the preferred embodiment the handle memberhas an outer end surface of substantial area adapted to facilitatehand-pressing of the pointed and tapered portion of the rod into a core,and further has a ridged peripheral surface adapted to facilitatehand-turning of the implement and thus screwing of the second portion ofthe rod into the core.

The invention further contemplates a number of other objects,advantages, and features of construction and function, severally and incombination, which will appear from the following description of thepresent preferred embodiment, as illustrated. in the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view, partly in longitudinal section, of animplement embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view showing the, implement in association withan ear of corn, into the central core of which the first portion of therod of the implement has been forced; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the relationship of theimplement to the ear of corn after the rod has been screwed home intothe core so that only the handle of the implement remains exposed.

As shown by the drawings the implement comprises,

in general, an elongated handle member 4 (preferably of a molded,plastic),-and, in axial alinement therewith, a hard, elongated, rigidrod member 5 (preferably of stainless steel).

As best seen in FIG. 1, the rigid rod member 5 has an outermostelongated tapered portion 6 terminating in a point 7, and inboard ofsaid portion 6, and axially alined therewith, a second elongated.portion comprising a central stem 8 surrounded with a steep-pitchedsharp-edged screw 9 of substantially constant diameter throughout mostof the length of the second portion.

The rod, as so far described, is fixedly secured to the handle member 4,and this is desirably done by means of an elongated shank 10 ofgenerally cylindrical shape connecting the said second portion and thehandle and axially alined with both.

In the preferred embodiment'the shank 10 includes an exposed cylindricalportion 10a inboard of the second portion of the rod, this portion andthe first and second portions being respectively of about equal lengths,providing an elongated support for the comestible, at a minimum of cost,since a screw 9 of only a few turns is adequate for driving theimplement home. The shank 10 also has an innermost part 10b embedded inthe handle, and preferably interlocked therewith, for example by anadhesive bond, or else mechanically, as by one or more slots 11 routedor otherwise formed in or on the shank, so that the handle, moldedthereon, or otherwise engaged therewith, is fixed as against relativerotation and preferably also as against relative axial dislodgment. Ifthe handle member is mechanically interlocked with the shank, it maydesirably be molded directly thereon. If it is adhesively secured to theshank, it may be molded separately, and drilled out to fit thecylindrical shank.

The handle itself has an outer end surface 12 of substantial area tofacilitate pressing of the implement, by the hand of the user, forforcing the pointed and tapered end portion of the rod into the hardcore of the ear of corn or the like; and also has grooves 13, formingridges 14 or the like around the peripheral surface to facilitateturning of the implement, by the hand of the user, so that the secondportion of the rod may be readily screwed into said core.

Still further the handle 4 has an 15 which is adapted to abut againstthecomestible, when the implement is screwed iii-tightly, so that thecomestible is firmly held by the cooperation of said shoulder and theseveral portions of the rod member.

As shown in FIG. 2 the implement (by means of surface 12) has beenpressed into the core C of an ear of corn E until the screw-thread 9 isaboutto penetrate the same. While pressure at 12 is still applied, the

ridged handle surface 13,14, permits the user readily to screw theimplement home, until the inboard shoulder of the handle member is tightagainst the core, as shown in FIG. 3.

Although a pair of the implements may be used, the

combination of features as illustrated and described is such that oneimplement is generally adequate for holding, buttering, and manipulatingthe comestible, by one hand of the user.

The disclosure is intended as illustrative of the preferred embodimentof the invention, and not to be limited except by the claims, as giventhe broadest construction consistent with differentiation from the priorart.

I claim:

1. An implement, for holding and turning a comestible with a tough core,such as an ear of corn, comprising a one-piece, elongated, rigid plastichandle, and, in non-rotative co-axial relation thereto, a hard and rigidmetallic rod member having three substantiallydiffering portions, thefirst being an elongated portion of circular section but taperingthroughout and terminating in a sharp point at its outermost end, thesecond,

inner end shoulder in said handle, the said third portion having anexposed part, about equal in length to each of the first two portions,all three portions of the rigid rod member being of considerably lessdiameter than the handle in which the rod member is secured, forstrength and ease of handling, whereby also the inner end of the handlemay serve further as an abutment against the comestible.

1. An implement, for holding and turning a comestible with a tough core,such as an ear of corn, comprising a one-piece, elongated, rigid plastichandle, and, in non-rotative co-axial relation thereto, a hard and rigidmetallic rod member having three substantially-differing portions, thefirst being an elongated portion of circular section but taperingthroughout and terminating in a sharp point at its outermost end, thesecond, which is inboard of said tapered portion and axially alinedtherewith, being an elongated portion which has a central stemsurrounded with a steep-pitched sharp-edged screw of substantiallyconStant diameter throughout most of the length of said second portion,said two portions being of about equal length, and the third, which isinnermost, and axially alined with the first and second portions beingan elongated uniform cylindrical portion, part of which is fixedlyembedded in said handle, the said third portion having an exposed part,about equal in length to each of the first two portions, all threeportions of the rigid rod member being of considerably less diameterthan the handle in which the rod member is secured, for strength andease of handling, whereby also the inner end of the handle may servefurther as an abutment against the comestible.